What is the cost of living in Manhattan Beach, CA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Manhattan Beach has an overall cost of living index of 340, which is 3.4x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to California, Manhattan Beach has a cost of living index that's 2.4x higher than California's index of 142.
The standard of living in Manhattan Beach ranks as #626 most affordable out of the 634 places we measured in California. By definition, that implies Manhattan Beach ranks as the #8 most expensive place in the Golden State.
For more reading on life in Manhattan Beach, check out:
Manhattan Beach Cost Of Living Vs. California
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Manhattan Beach. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Manhattan Beach is 113.
The Groceries index in Manhattan Beach is 116.
The Health index in Manhattan Beach is 864.
The Housing index in Manhattan Beach is 115.
The Transportation index in Manhattan Beach is 116.
The Utilities index in Manhattan Beach is 117.
| Living Expense | Manhattan Beach | California | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 340 | 142 | 100 |
| Services | 113 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 116 | 118 | 100 |
| Health | 864 | 197 | 100 |
| Housing | 115 | 120 | 100 |
| Transportation | 116 | 121 | 100 |
| Utilities | 117 | 121 | 100 |
Manhattan Beach Cost Of Living Compared To California Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around California, check out:
Protect your home budget Compare home warranties in Manhattan Beach Get matched →Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Manhattan Beach, CA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in California, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Manhattan Beach is $3,227,202.
The Median Rent in Manhattan Beach is $3,449.
The Median Income in Manhattan Beach is $204,306.
The Home Value To Income in Manhattan Beach is 15.8x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Manhattan Beach is 0.2x.
| Statistic | Manhattan Beach | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $3,227,202 | $774,581 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $3,449 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $204,306 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 15.8x | 7.8x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.2x | 0.25x | 0.21x |
Manhattan Beach, CA Costs By Category
Detailed Manhattan Beach Services costs vs. California
| Item | Manhattan Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.41 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.46 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.07 | $18 |
| Haircut | $24.67 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.33 | $45.56 |
Detailed Manhattan Beach Groceries costs vs. California
| Item | Manhattan Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $6.26 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $2.08 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.94 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $16.13 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.6 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.76 | $3.7 |
Detailed Manhattan Beach Health costs vs. California
| Item | Manhattan Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $129.09 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $119.86 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $108.07 | $113.29 |
Detailed Manhattan Beach Transportation costs vs. California
| Item | Manhattan Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $4.47 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $58.33 | $59.92 |
Detailed Manhattan Beach Utilities costs vs. California
| Item | Manhattan Beach | California |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $326.49 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $182.78 | $192.25 |
Manhattan Beach SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Manhattan Beach
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Manhattan Beach. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Torrance, CA has a cost of living index of 196, 0.6x Manhattan Beach.
Hawthorne, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 0.5x Manhattan Beach.
Lakewood, CA has a cost of living index of 166, 0.5x Manhattan Beach.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Manhattan Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torrance, CA | 142,130 | 196 | 0.6x |
| Hawthorne, CA | 85,191 | 166 | 0.5x |
| Lakewood, CA | 79,850 | 166 | 0.5x |
| Redondo Beach, CA | 69,291 | 213 | 0.6x |
| Gardena, CA | 59,422 | 155 | 0.5x |
| Cerritos, CA | 47,867 | 185 | 0.5x |
| Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | 40,864 | 243 | 0.7x |
| Lawndale, CA | 30,781 | 159 | 0.5x |
| West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA | 25,615 | 150 | 0.4x |
| Lennox, CA | 19,449 | 149 | 0.4x |
